When learning any language, one must learn both the words and the commonly used manner of putting the words together to convey ideas (the grammatically correct and idiomatic compositions.) ..Fortunately for most, the "words" or elements of visual communication are already a familiar and well connoted vocabulary. ..Yet, the inherent ambiguities in the visual vocabulary often complicate its use. This project intends to foster a means to delineate and refine compositional techniques for this visual vocabulary.
For many artists, a journal or record of ideas and images is often kept as a reference for later consideration and use. The basic reason for keeping a journal is the random and spontaneous nature ideas for making art. You never know when you might need or use any of these ideas.To structure a possible method to record these idea, a "notebook" of basic examples of compositions and textures/lighting qualities are to be photographed. Although it's possible to photograph trite and trivial examples for this project, it is hoped that some sophistication and forethought is exercised to gain the most from this endeavor.
If you have ever tried to have a conversation with very young children who are just learning to master a language, you may have noticed a lot of the dialog reduces to "what is this" types of questions and answers. Simple, short and direct questions and answers are almost entirely employed. ..Similarly, early school reading materials ("See Spot run ....") use examples which are very basic. ..Referencing these techniques, the objective of this project is to present simple, clear, well defined examples of certain ideas in photography and the visual vocabulary. To motivate and enrich this endeavor, you are encouraged to design images which entertain as well as demonstrate the desired terminology; as if preparing a lesson for a "Sesame Street" program.
From the following list, please choose any combination of five (6) topics to photograph. Each print is to be of a different topic, but you may use the same subject materials in all your prints if you desire. (Same words, different kinds of sentences.) Remember, the clarity of the presentation is very important. You may find that reduction to the most simple is actually very difficult.
Compositional techniques:symmetrical balance (evenly balanced in halves)asymmetrical balance (unequal areas, but visually evenly weighted)
"rule of thirds" (This is not about dividing the picture into thirds! A method to make an asymmetric balance.)
off-centered horizons (the horizon is at the very top or very bottom of image)
"S-curve" compositions (curving roads, shore lines, etc.)
"vanishing points" or receding perspectives --- linear perspectives (railroad tracks, rows of cars, etc.)
closed-loop arrangements (circle, ellipse, triangle, square, etc., "connect the dots")
geometric shapes (subjects make shapes and forms, also shadow shapes, etc.)
repeating patterns
almost total active space (example: all parts of pictures are important, viusally "busy")
almost total negative space (example: a small fly on a blank wall)
subject frames (objects in image frame subject)
vignettes or other border effects (using lightness or darkness to frame image)
If you want, you may shoot different examples of the same compositional format. However, you must have at least one example of six different composition techniques.
As specified before, try to isolate the vocabulary you are trying to demonstrate. For compositional examples, avoid the use of too many props, elements, or situations which produce too many distractions to your concept focus. This is the problem of reduction without loss of substance: to avoid reducing to the point where the point is lost.
You are to prepare at least one print for each of the six (6) topics you have chosen to illustrate. If you have more than one example of each, you may also present them in class. The prints are to be no smaller than 4in x 5in. However, you do not have to maintain any particular print format. That is, you can chose to make your image 4"x6", 4"x8", 5"x7", 5"x7.5", 7.5"x10", 8"x10", or any other proportions you like.However, since you are making set of image about compositional techniques, it is suggest that all your images have nearly the same proportions, with at least one dimension common to all prints. For instance,you chose to make most of your images to be 5"x7", you might have an image that's 5"x6.5" or 5"x8".
All the prints should be presented with over-mattes if possible.
Label the back of all your prints with your name, plus the topic of the image. You do not need to have any exposure data on the print. You may have more than six prints if you have additional image ideas or additional prints which are variations of the same idea. Quality is more important than quantity.